L abor Day always heralds a big burst of activity in New Haven. Universities and other schools begin to build serious momentum following the long weekend’s relapse into summertime pacing, and notable annual events—from athletic endeavors to fairs—cluster together, offering enticing ways to spend our spare time.

Monday, September 1 – Labor Day
Even on Labor Day, thousands of area residents are getting up early to do some hard work. They’re running in the Faxon Law New Haven Road Race, which offers a few different courses: a 20K (8:40 a.m. start, $60 entry fee); a 5K (8:42 a.m., $35); and a half-mile “Amity Physical Therapy Kids’ Fun Run,” open to children ages 6 through 12 (8:15 a.m., $10). If you’re running but haven’t secured a bib yet, same-day registration begins bright and early at 6:45 on the New Haven Green, which is also where races begin and end. If you’re cheering others on, pick a spot along a route with the help of these course maps.

Tuesday, September 2
Greece has been in the spotlight quite a bit in recent years, first as the favored punching bag during the global economic crisis, which hit the country particularly hard, and then as the seat of ultra-rightwing political party Golden Dawn, now the nation’s third-most popular despite riding dangerously close to fascism and neo-Nazism. No doubt Golden Dawn is getting some attention today from Antonis Ellinas of the University of Cyprus, who’s giving a free talk on “Extremism in Contemporary Greek Political Culture” from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Yale’s Luce Hall (34 Hillhouse Ave, New Haven).

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Wednesday, September 3
Luke Rodney, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, resident of Branford and all-around musical journeyman, has chosen an odd collection of instruments to pursue. Primarily, he plays the drums, bombastic and powerful by nature. Lately, though, he’s picked up the ukelele, all sweetness and light. He’ll be singing and playing the latter tonight at Best Video (1842 Whitney Ave, Hamden; 203-287-9286) with the rest of his Luke Rodney Band. The style is “Caribbean-influenced pop,” featuring rustic, care-free melodies beneath Rodney’s life-lessons-infused vocals. 8 p.m. $5.

Thursday, September 4
The North Haven Fair takes over the town’s fairgrounds on Washington Avenue today through Sunday. The event offers a zany assortment of activities and entertainments included with admission: concerts, comedic magic shows, human wrestling matches, pig races, skillet-tossing contests, high-wire shows, a petting zoo, a rabbit competition and even “demonstrations of pioneer cooking, life and blacksmithing.” An additional “full assortment of rides and carnival games,” plus food vendors, round out the attractions. The fair’s hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. today, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. tomorrow, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10, or $5 for seniors and free for kids under 12.

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Friday, September 5
Some of the noise attending Noise On9 tonight is caused by forks hitting plates, as part of Orange Street below Chapel is given over to bistro tables and chairs for outdoor dining. But more of it comes from speakers pumping out music to accompany several main events, like designer Neville Wisdom’s fall runway show on Orange Street, FITWEEK-organized fitness classes (Zumba, salsa and yoga) in Pitkin Plaza and an Elm City Dance Collective performance followed by a DJ at Artspace (50 Orange St). There are also sounds of chatter coming from an opening reception at Reynolds Fine Art (96 Orange St), an exhibition at Euphoria Salon (57 Orange St) and a popup shop by “pan-African-inspired fashion company” 54 Kingdoms at The Grove Studios (71 Orange St). For timing specifics, click here.

Saturday, September 6
Still got some juice left? Participants of the Closer to Free bike ride, a big annual fundraiser for Yale-New Haven’s Smilow Cancer Hospital, congregate at the Yale Bowl (81 Central Ave, New Haven) today for a 6:45 a.m. opening ceremony and 7 a.m. starter’s pistol. Riders take one of three routes—25 miles, 62.5 miles or 100 miles—then gather back at the Yale Bowl for a “Finish Line Festival” offering barbecue and beer (and other beverages), as well as “sponsor booths… and activities for kids and families.” You don’t have to ride to attend the festival—though, unlike the riders, whose entry fees have them covered, you’ll have to bring cash to exchange for food and drink.

The 2014 CT Folk Festival and Green Expo runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Edgerton Park (75 Cliff St, New Haven) today, fusing rootsy diversions and earthly appreciations. The folk music portion of the programming, which includes 12 largely local acts headlined by internationally touring trio Red Molly, opens with performances by the finalists of the festival’s “Grassy Hill Songwriting Competition.” The expo side of things, which ends at 5 p.m., showcases “more than 75 booths” of “exhibitors, educators and vendors,” with an environmentally mindful food court, solar-powered mobile charging station and curiosity-stoking velomobiles, or “bicycle cars.” Free to attend.

Today from 2 to 5 p.m., City Gallery (994 State St, New Haven; 203-782-2489) hosts an opening reception for Inklings, a new exhibit featuring intricate mixed-media pieces by Karen Wheeler. Ink figures prominently in the work, of course, but so does acrylic, blasting fine trails of black with swooshes of color (as in Conundrum, partially pictured above).

Sunday, September 7
Neighborhood Music School (100 Audubon St, New Haven; 203-624-5189) is hosting its annual Fall Open House today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Highlights include dance classes, “mini-lessons” to see what NMS’s private sessions are like and an “instrument petting zoo,” where young kids get to try different instruments on for size before taking the plunge with any one of them. Free.

Written by Dan Mims. Image depicts part of Conundrum by Karen Wheeler.